Anyone have any comparison experience with a Sage TCR, T&T Helix, or a Winston BoronIIx in 8 wt. Primary use being in rivers and estuaries after silvers and steelhead. Thanks in advance.

Not exactly...POV salt but I fish a 9 wt TCR and have borrowed/fished IIx I like the TCR because it works for me with a shorter stroke...timing is important...the IIx 9wt flexes more...look at the IImx but try them before you buy...I "lawn" casted the IImx 8 through 12 really liked them better than IIx...give them a side by side trial with the same line

Try try try them out side by side...same line, same time...same shop...for $700 plus retail I would make sure...cause if I had it to do over I would try the 9 wt TCR before I built one...I tried the 8 but not the 9...the 9 is ok but not special...whereas the 10 wt TCR that I built last winter after trying one in FLA...is special and is my go to rod for everything in salt except large tarpon and only when targeting such fish in the 100 lb class but then I have never had an average or so so 10 wt from Sage they really have that wt dialed in...timing in critical with the TCR if your arm gets tired...you're in for a long day...for example I used the TCR 10 for 3 days this past July...caught bonefish permit and tarpon 60-80 lbs no problem..now late summer had to do some fishing ... so went for river smallies Indiana...after three hours of nearly constant blind casting with the 10 wt TCR my arm was "raggity" and my timing went south...and my casting was S...